According to reports in the media, Simon Petrus, a Grade 12 learner from a rural high school, put the phone together using spare parts from a cellphone and television set.
The device comes with a light bulb, fan and charger socket. Powered by a radiator, the handset is able to make calls to anywhere through the use of radio frequencies. Housed in a box, the device can also stream one television channel.
In regions where technology and resources are both scarce, inventors and makers have taken it upon themselves to fill the gaps. The DIY-culture in rural and urban African areas has given rise to innovations like Malaria detection devices and even customised means of transport. For Petrus, he hopes his two-year labour of love will be taken even further.
Design Indaba inspires and empowers people to create a better future through design and creativity. We are an online publication (www.designindaba.com) with an annual festival and social impact Do Tank.
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